“PICKED UP IN THE MUD!"

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 119, 30 May 1868, Page 3

“PICKED UP IN THE MUD!"

[The MSS. of the following was handed to us with a request that we would find space for it in our columns. As it appears to be the recorded impressions of a visitor amongst us who wished to give a distant friend some idea of the manner in which the Queen’s Birthday was observed in Blenheim, We only extract that portion which relates to the performances of the day. At the same time, in justice to ourselves, we must say that we do not endorse all the opinions of the Writer. —Ed.] * * * . “It Was not such a bad night, the beds were very comfortable, and the • attendance very good, but Mvserablle dictu ! at a most unreasonably early hour, when dreaming of my Susan Jane and the little ones in my distant home, I was disturbed by an unwonted noise. I had the night before, wiled away a few hours in the perusal of the local paper, the Express, and there 1 found an intimation of something grand coming off to celebrate the natal day of Her Majesty in the loyal village [!] of Blenheim, the swampy appearance of which I made you aware of in my last letter. Hearing the noise to which I have alluded, I at first imagined the Fenians had stolen a march on the Loyalists, and had by some unaccountable means possessed themselves of some heavy ordnance, and had commenced a bombardment of the town. This idea was soon dispelled as I recognised the sound was proceeding from a vile gong, which is used at the Imperial Hotel at which I am staying, to break the repose of its customers. Sleep was out of the question, for in addition to the unearthly sound, the rain was falling like pebbles on the roof. I then commenced the day as you may imagine, by calling for some ]what immediately follows is immaterial.] Standing on the balcony of the hotel, * chewing the cud of sweet and bitter fan* cies, ’ my attention was attracted by a number of men wending their way to another locale, having been summoned by the bugle. Thinking something unusual about to happen, I siezed my hat and stick in hand followed to what appeared to be the point of attraction. I there found myself on a spot resembling the Champ de Mars, which you may remember we visited daring the late Exhibition. The place which I now discovered, is ornamented with lofty buildings, in the Gothic style, consisting principally of churches and hotels, and a charming view might be obtained off a gaol in the distance, not quite so large as Cierkenwell, or the Old Bailey. The men I had observed in warlike garb were ordered then to fail in ', this they easily might have done, to the great detriment of their splendid uniforms. Bain having fallen for the 24 hours’ previous, and the water having then assumed a peculiarly pea-soup-like appearance, owing possibly to the fact that the ground had been crossed and re-crossed by thousands during the morning. It is almost impossible to describe the magnificent battalion, they being dressed in as many varieties of uniform as there are colours in the rainbow, but all of the same stature—natnely 4ft. nothing; I soon learnt that the reason of this display was the presentation of a, medal, value £250, to one of the corps, for performing some extraordinary feat in hitting the target, when everybody else missed it. They drilled very well; their marching in Echellon is not surpassed by the Imperial guard, and the manner in which they fired the feu-de-joie was only equalled by the Old Guard at Austerlitz, when, as you are aware, all the pieces were discharged at once. The effect was wonderful; the report echoed through and through the surrounding hills, and it Was affirmed was heard by the settlers in a little transmontane village called Pieton. The presentation did not take long, and when the “dismiss” was ' sounded on the bugle, the battalion adjourned to one of the palatial buildings I have described as ornamenting the Square, known as the Council Chamber Hotel; to refresh themselves after their arduous duties. I need not remind yon that I am a great admirer and supporter of everything that assists to keep us independent; and from the action of this battalion, intuitively acknowledge that they will be all there when .required—if hot sooner—especially in the observance of the old form of keeping spirits up by ‘ putting Colonial (only 3d. a nobbier) down. We, of comse, fraternised together; and from some cause I cannot explain^—either from the dampness of the weather or other moisture—was unable to join in further festivity till 1 had recovered my, shattered nerves, which was not till -evening, when I attended the pyrotechnic display and the ball, of which more in my next. * * * [The letter which is hero promised, was picked tip at the same time as the above; wt tit of space prevents us giving it insertion in this issue, but 1 v/onlay publish tbs remainder next week.—-Ed 1